Corn husker



E. CLARK.

CORN HUSKER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20. 1918.

1,410,091 Patented Mar. 21, 1922..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. CLARK.

CORN HUSKER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, ms.

1,410,091 Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED STATES EDWIN CLARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CORN HUSKER.

Application filed June 20, 1918.

To all whom it may COILCGML.

Be it known that I, EDWIN CLARK. a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Corn Huskers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction ofcorn husker and more especially of a device of that type embodying ahusking pin and the means for carrying the same or attaching itoperatively to the hand of the operator, and of securing the pin properto the strap or other device constituting the fastening or holdingmeans, to the end that the requisite strength and elliciency of thedevice may be secured at a minimum cost of manufacture and the utmostsimplicity of construction, while insuring the ready adaptability of theap paratus to the hand of the operator and to the peculiarities of useby individual operators.

With these and similar objects in view, as will appear in the course ofthe following description, the illustrated embodiment, representing apreferred form, consists of a certain construction, combination andrelation of parts, which, as will be understood, how

ever, may be modified in form, proportion and details, within the scopeof the appended claims, without departing from thespirit of theinvention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a general view of the husker including thumband finger stalls or cots and wrist band as seen when applied in properposition to the hand of an operator.

Figure 2 is a side view partly in section of the pin and finger stallwith the connected strap showing the means whereby said elements areconnected.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the same.

Figures 4 and 5 are detail transverse sectional views on the planesindicated by the lines &4 and 5-5 respectively of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the husking pin. 7 V

Figure 7 is a plan view of the wrist-band.

Figure 8 1s a perspective v ew or the thumb cot and finger cot and theirattendant connecting medium.

The husking pin 10 is constructed of sheet metal, of a. suitable gage,rolled as at 11 to form a handle or grip with the side edges broughtinto proximity and relative paral- Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 241,012.

lelism, it being preferable however, to allow said edges to remainseparated to an extent suliicient to form an intermediate parallel sidedspace or slot which constitutes a c011- venient rest or grip for thefinger tips to actas a further means of enabling the operator to preventthe turning of the rolled handle portion in the hand. Beyond the rolledportion the blank is broadened or fiattened to an extent sufiicient toform a concaved blade 12 terminating in a relatively sharp point 13, andas a means of stiffening this blade portion of the pin it may bereversely curved as shown and up-struck or corrugated to form inwardlyand outwardly projecting longitudinal rib portions 1st and 15 anddiagonally disposed rib portions 16. The concave relatively flattenedand broadened -portion of the blade forms a suitable bearing for thethumb of the operator with out involving such abrasion as wouldconstitute an inconvenience in long continued use of the pin. 7 p

In connection herewith there is used a strap 17, substantially of theform now in use which is permanently secured near one end, as forexample the buckle end 18, by means of a rivet 19, the inner end ofwhich is. located within the rolled-handle so as to be out of reach andthus removed from contact with the hand of the operator. Also the saidstrap has a running engagement with the pin by means of rings and 21,each consisting as shown of a blank of wire'of which the extremities areengaged with openings or perforations 22 formed in the sides of therolled portion of the pin, the openings or perforations for each ringbeing disposed in staggered relation or slightly out of registrationtwinsversely so that the ends of the wire blanks insertedthrough saidopenings are out of aliginnent and pass each other to thus form anoverlap. This facilitates the application of thering to the pinbyavoiding terminal contact, and at thesame time insures a firm engagementof each end of the blank withthe handle portion of the pin, whilepermitting-a relative swinging'movement of the ring to adapt itself tothe movements of the strap and the position of the hand of the operator.The intermediate ring 20 also serves as a guidefor the back-.

run of the strap, as shown at 17 which is terminally engaged by theaforesaid buckle providing'for adjustment to suit the size of the handof the operator, while the forward Patented Mar. 21,1922.

7 ring 21, in addition to engaging the strap shown in the drawings thefinger stall may be armored or provided with metallic spurs or disks 25,secured thereto in any suitable or preferred manner.

In the construction illustrated there is connected with. the fingerstall, by means of an adjustable strap 26 a thumb stall 27 which mayalso be suitably armored, and

said strap at an intermediate point has a running engagement with awrist-band 28 designed to be arranged in two wraps or folds around thewrist of the operator and having an elongated opening 29 through whichthe buckle 30 on the inner fold or wrap projects for engagement with theextremity of the band. This provides for the necessary adjustment of theband to suit the size of the wrist and insures the exposure of thebuckle, in order that the proper adjustment or tension of the band maybe secured,

. while relieving the wrist from any pressure of the buckle and thusavoiding the inconvenience or irritation which might otherwise beproduced thereby.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that the requiredconfiguration of thegpin may be secured, particularly with. reference tothe round handle or grip and the broad and relatively shallow blade orbowl, together with the requisite strcngth and a minimum of weight whichis unattainable in a solid pin; or one which is formed from a solid rodor bar, without in any way sacrificing the convenience or comfort-of theoperator or the security of the grip of the hand in the manipulation ofthe device. In addition however, to these advantages the attachment tothe pin of the leather shield or strap is facilitatedin the matter ofmanufacture both as to preparation and assembling, and in the matter ofsecurity and hence durability of the tool, for the reason that the rivetat the rear end of the handle or grip portion of the pin is hollowedwhile therings which engage the shield or strap at an intermediate pointhave their extremities efliciently overlapped and ho'usedwitlrin thecavity oft-he handle to avoid the possibi;

lity of accidental disengagement under severe straimsaid rings howeverbeing free to swing longitudinally of the pin inaccordancewith thepositions of the engagingpor tions of the leather shield'or strap, as.pr viously'noted. .1 Obviously this relative-freedom of movement ofthe. rings serves to avoid face being broken or interrupted only by anarrow slot to enable the operator to prevent twisting or turning of thetool. in the hand, there is a further and important purpose in soconstructing the handle in view of the fact that itis' desirable to usesplit rings, easily applied and removed, as the means for providing asliding connection between the handle and the strap. A split ringexposed to strain is subject to a certain yielding movement, orexpansion or enlargement, withinthe range of elasticity of the wire ofwhich it formed (such enlargement becoming permanent if the strainexceeds the limit of elasticity) and also to'a turning movement, or amovement parallel with the length of the wire relative to the handle,and either of these movements of the ring in connection with a hollowhandle formed of a sheet metal blank is liable to bring the split oropening at the terminals of the wire forming the ring into such relationwith he handle. as to cause disengagement of the ring therefrom. Y 4 iIt desirable to engage each lin for greater security and strength, withtwo perforations or openingsvin a handle of the sheet metal type, andthe substantially tubular form above described lends itself i'cadilv tothis arrangement. '4

It is also desirable to protect thoghand oi? the operator in graspingthe handle, from contact-with the rings, and particularly the terminalsof the wire forming the rings. because said terminals are often unevenor sharp and are likely to chafe or injure the hand, and here again thesubstantially complete tubular form of the handle is important as ahousing for the ends of the ring win-e.

illoreover, it is desirable thatthe tendency the overlapped ends of thering are ex- 7 tended to contact terminally with the inner surface ofthe nal extending tubular handle,--oaeh termito theopposite side otthctubular handle from that in which is formed the perforation throughwhich said terminal is extended. In other words each of the overlappedterminals of the ring extends diametrically across the bore of thehandle to contact with the opposite side of the handle. The tubular formof the handle is particularly adapted to this arrangement in affordingstops to limit the turning of the ring and in housing the overlappedends thereof.

Finally, in order to facilitate the application of the particular formof split ring in dicated, and provide for the described overlapping ofthe ends thereof, in such relative positions that they may extenddiametrically across the bore of the tubularhandle and function as setforth, it has been found expedient to arrange the perforations inopposite sides of the handle in non-registering or non-aligned relation.The ends of the wire blank for each ring may thus be en gagedrespectively with the staggered or non-registering openings and when thering is squeezed or compressed to contract it, the terminals followtheir proper parallel but non-aligned paths until checked, in suitableoverlapping relation, by respective contact with the inner surfaces ofopposite sides of the tubular handle.

Thus, the substantially tubular construction of handle functionsintimately in relation to the special form of split rings employed andis particularly advantageous by reason of having a cross-sectionalcontour exceeding a semicircle and closely approaching the completetubular form. As, however, there is an advantage in slightly separatingthe edges of the portion of the blank forming the handles as a means ofincreas ing the efficiency thereof as a gripping surface, I have electedto refer to the same as being substantially tubular, to distinguish fromthose forms in which the concave or hollow side of the handle isaccessible for contact by a hand grasping the same, or in which theedges of the blank are exposed for contact with the hand insteadrofbeing drawn together and disposed in facing relation as in the handle ofthe improved pin.

Attention is further called to a peculiarity in the construction of theblade or spoon which is formed as a part of the same blank with therolled substantially tubular handle or grasp and which is flattened outrelatively to the handle or grip portion to represent a width in excessof the diameter of said handle portion; as shown clearly in Figures 1and 6, said blade or spoon being transversely dished or concavedthroughout its len 'th, and being alternately and progressively convexedand concaved longitudinally from the end of the rolled or handle portiontoward the extremity of the blade or spoon where it is reduced in widthto form a point for puncturing or penetrating the corn husk. Thelongitudinally convened but transversely concaved portion of the bladeor spoon immediately adjacent to the adjoining portion of the rolledhandle affords a bearing for the thumb of the hand by which the pin ismanipulated, the end of the thumb resting upon this longitudinallyconvexed transversely concaved portion of the blade or spoon in theoperation of engaging the corn husk by means of the end of the blade,resisting to a point as indicated.

Moreover the blade or spoon throughout its length is longitudinallybeaded or crimped, preferably on a center line or midway between thelateral edges thereof, the bead or crimp in the longitudinally convexedportion being directedupwardly or inwardly (that is toward thetransversely concaved surface of the blade or spoon) while the portionof the crimp or bead in the longitudinally concaved portion of thelatter is directed rearwardly or outwardly, or in the opposite directionfrom that in the longitudinally convened portion, so that there isformed a continuous longitudinal reenforcing rib throughout the lengthof the blade or spoon, the portion of the head at the convened portionbeing disposed in the transverse concavity of the blade while that ofthe longitudinally concaved portion is at the outer or convex surface ofthe longitudinally concaved portion of the blade, to afford the requiredstrength and resist ance to distortion under the strains to which adevice of this character is subjected in use.

Claims 1. A husking pin having a-tubular handle or grip portion andconnected blade or bowl, and a guide ring terminally engaged with sideopenings or perforations in said handle or grip. portion, said openingsor perforations being arranged in staggered relation.

2. A corn husker having a sheet metal husking pin provided with a rolledtubular handle or'grip portion and relatively broad blade or bowl, incombination with a leather shield or strap permanently secured to saidhandle or grip portion near the rear end thereof, and a guide ring forsaid leather shield or strap consisting of a blank of wire terminallyextended through lateral openings or perforations in said handle or gripportion and terminally housed in overlapping relation within the same.

3. A corn husker having a sheet metal husking pin provided with a rolledtubular handle or grlp portion and a relatively broad blade or bowl, incombination with a shield or strap permanently secured to said handle orgrip portion at one end of the latter and having a running engagementwith said handle or grip portion near its forward end, said runningengagement consisting of swinging rings engaged with transverselystaggered side openings or perforations in the handle or grip portionand terminally housed within the latter in overlapping relation.

4. A corn husker having a husking pin provided with a tubular handle orgrip portion, in combination with a strap disposed longitudinally of thepin, a rivet securing the strap to the handle or grip at 'the rear endof the latter and housed at its inner end within said handle, forwardand intermediate guide rings embracing said strap to provide a runningengagement therewith and having their terminals engaged with sideopenings or perforations in said tubular handle or grip portion, and afinger stall in engagement with said strap and having perforations forthe reception of the forward guide ring. 1

5. A husking pin having a rolled handle or grip portion and a relativelyflattened laterally spread blade or bowl which is forwardly curvedadjacent to the end of the handle portion and is rearwardly curvedtoward its extremity and terminates in a forwardly directed point.

6. A husklng pin constructed of a single blank of sheet metal and havinga rolled ward its extremity and terminates in a for-.

approximately tubular handle or grip portion merging at one end into ablade or bowl which is transversely spread or flat tened and isprogressively curved forwardly and then rearwardly' and terminates in aforwardly directed point. a

7. A- husking pin having a rolled handle or gri portion and a relativelyflattened laterally spread blade or bowl which is forwardly curvedadjacent to the end of the handleportion and is 'rearwardly curvedtowardly directed point the blade or bowl being transversely concavedforwardly throu hout its length.

8. 1% husking pin having :1 rolled handle or rip portion and arelatively flattened laterally spread blade or bowl which is forwardlycurved adjacent to the end of the handle portion and is rearwardlycurved toward its extremity and terminates in a forwardly directedpoint, the blade or bowl.

being transversely concaved forwardly throughout its length, and beinglongitudinally traversed by an upstruck reinforcing web.

9. A husking pin having a rolled handle or grip portion and a relativelyflattened laterally spread blade or bowl which is forwardly curvedadjacent to the end of the handle portion and is rearwardly curvedtoward its extremity and terminates in a forwardly directed point, theblade or bowl being transversely coneaved forwardly throughout itslength, and being longitudinally traversed by an 'upstruck reinforcingweb of which the portions traversing the forwardly andrearwardly curvedareas are offset in opposite directions.

10. A husking pin having a rolled sheet metal substantially tubularhandle or grip and hand engaging means including a split guide ringhaving its terminals disposed in parallel overlapping relations with thebore of the handle.

11. A husking pin having a rolled sheet metal substantially tubularhandle or grip and hand engaging means including a split guide ringhaving its terminals engaged with side openings or perforations in saidhandle or grip portion and disposed within the bore of the latter inparallel overlapping relation.

12. A husking pin having a rolled shee' metal substantially tubularhandle or grip and hand engaging means including a split guide ringhaving its terminals engaged with side openings or perforations in saidhandle and arranged ill the bore thereof in overlapping relation withtheir terminals in engaging relation with the opposite sides of saidbore. f v 7 13. A husking pin having a rolled sheet metal substantiallytubular handle or grip and hand engaging means including a split guidering terminally engaged with side openings or perforations in the handleor grip portion and disposed respectively in overlapping diametricallyspanning relation with the bore of said handle or grip portion.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDWIN CLARK.

